Biodefense Information & Resources: About this Site

The biodefense section of the website is a collaboration between IDSA and the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Biodefense Information & Resources materials are intended to help ID clinicians identify and manage potential threats. In the Resources by Agent section the information is divided into three parts for each of the six diseases profiled – a medical summary, a clinical pathways chart and a list of web resources.

The medical summary contains the bulk of the information. The summary is broken into several sections and includes information on:

Agent
Pathogenesis
Epidemiology
Clinical Features
Differential Diagnosis
Laboratory Diagnosis
Treatment Recommendations
Pediatric Considerations
Postexposure Prophylaxis
Vaccine
Infection Control
Management of Exposure Events
Environmental Testing
Decontamination
Public Health Reporting and Case Definition
References

The clinical pathways chart maps out steps for physicians to take in evaluating and treating possible biodefense cases, including other conditions to consider.

The web resources document lists other websites and journal articles to consult for more information. In many cases, links to full text articles are available.

The Biodefense Information and Resources section also contains useful links to other resources.

How to Consider Category A Agents in the Etiologic Diagnosis of Common Clinical Syndromes. Chart on differential diagnosis for all six diseases.
Who To Contact in the Event of a Bioterrorism Threat. CDC list of health department websites and emergency notification procedures.
Guidance for Notification of and Interaction with Law Enforcement Officials in the Event of a Bioterrorism Incident. Recommendations from CDC.
Level A Laboratory Protocols. ASM protocols.
Slide Sets, Images and Teaching Tools for ID Specialists.
CDC Frequently Asked Questions About Category A Agents.